5.4 Mythology and backstory

Mythology and backstory are crucial elements in crafting compelling TV narratives. They provide depth, context, and richness to characters and worlds, helping writers create immersive stories that resonate with audiences on multiple levels.

Understanding how to effectively integrate mythology and backstory into scripts is essential for TV writers. These elements can enhance character development, world-building, and plot progression when used skillfully, but can also hinder storytelling if overused or poorly executed.

Origins of mythology

• Mythology has its roots in the human need to understand and explain the world, often through storytelling
• In the context of writing for television, understanding the origins of mythology can help writers create rich, compelling narratives that resonate with audiences on a deep level

Oral storytelling traditions

• Mythologies often originated as oral stories passed down through generations (folklore, legends)
• These stories served to entertain, educate, and preserve cultural history
• Oral traditions allowed for flexibility and adaptation of myths over time
• Studying oral storytelling techniques can inform how writers structure and reveal mythology in their scripts

Cultural and religious influences

• Mythologies are shaped by the beliefs, values, and practices of the cultures that create them
• Religious traditions often intertwine with mythological stories (creation myths, gods and goddesses)
• Understanding the cultural context of a mythology can help writers create authentic and respectful adaptations
• Incorporating cultural influences can add depth and nuance to a show's mythology

Elements of mythology

• Mythologies are characterized by certain common elements that make them compelling and enduring
• Recognizing these elements can help writers craft effective mythologies for their television series

Archetypal characters

• Mythologies often feature archetypal characters that embody universal human traits (the hero, the trickster)
• These characters serve as symbolic representations of human experiences and emotions
• Incorporating archetypal characters into a show's mythology can make it more relatable and resonant
• Writers can subvert or reimagine archetypes to create fresh and surprising mythological narratives

Symbolic themes

• Mythologies often explore universal themes through symbolism and metaphor (good vs. evil, the hero's journey)
• These themes tap into shared human experiences and provide a framework for storytelling
• Identifying the central themes of a mythology can help writers create a cohesive and meaningful narrative
• Symbolic themes can be woven throughout a series, providing depth and thematic richness

Supernatural elements

• Mythologies frequently incorporate supernatural beings, powers, and phenomena (gods, magic, monsters)
• These elements add a sense of wonder, mystery, and stakes to the narrative
• Supernatural elements can serve as metaphors for human experiences or as catalysts for character growth
• Balancing the supernatural with grounded, relatable elements is key to creating an engaging mythology

Mythology in storytelling

• Mythologies have long been used as a powerful tool in storytelling, offering writers a wealth of narrative possibilities
• Understanding how mythology functions in storytelling can help writers effectively incorporate mythological elements into their scripts

Universal human experiences

• Mythologies often explore universal human experiences, such as love, loss, and the search for meaning
• By tapping into these shared experiences, mythological stories can resonate with audiences on a deep, emotional level
• Incorporating universal themes into a show's mythology can make it more accessible and relatable to a wide audience
• Writers can use mythology to explore the human condition and create stories that speak to the collective human experience

Moral lessons and cautionary tales

• Mythologies often serve as a means of conveying moral lessons and cautionary tales
• These stories can teach values, warn against certain behaviors, or offer guidance for navigating life's challenges
• Incorporating moral lessons into a show's mythology can add depth and purpose to the narrative
• Writers can use mythology to explore complex moral dilemmas and create thought-provoking stories

Shared cultural understanding

• Mythologies can create a shared cultural understanding among audiences, providing a common language and frame of reference
• By tapping into well-known mythological stories or archetypes, writers can quickly establish a sense of familiarity and connection with the audience
• Incorporating elements of shared cultural mythology can make a show feel more accessible and engaging
• Writers can use mythology to create a sense of community and shared experience among viewers

Adapting mythology for TV

• Adapting mythologies for television requires a balance of faithfulness to the source material and creative innovation
• Writers must consider how to translate mythological stories and themes into a compelling, episodic format

Modernizing classic myths

• One approach to adapting mythology for TV is to modernize classic myths, updating them for contemporary audiences
• This can involve setting mythological stories in a modern context (urban fantasy) or reimagining mythological characters as modern archetypes (the hero as a detective)
• Modernizing myths can make them more accessible and relevant to today's viewers
• Writers must strike a balance between staying true to the core of the myth and making necessary updates for a modern audience

Blending multiple mythologies

• Another approach is to blend elements from multiple mythologies, creating a unique and original mythos for the show
• This can involve combining mythologies from different cultures (Norse and Greek) or mixing mythological elements with other genres (sci-fi, Western)
• Blending mythologies can create a rich and complex narrative world with endless storytelling possibilities
• Writers must be careful to blend mythologies in a way that feels cohesive and purposeful, avoiding a disjointed or confusing mythos

Original mythologies for fictional worlds

• Some shows choose to create entirely original mythologies for their fictional worlds, building a unique mythos from scratch
• This allows writers complete creative freedom to craft a mythology that perfectly fits the needs of their story and characters
• Original mythologies can help a show stand out and create a strong sense of world-building and lore
• The challenge with original mythologies is creating a mythos that feels fully realized, consistent, and compelling without the benefit of existing cultural touchstones

Backstory in TV writing

• Backstory refers to the history and background of a show's characters and world, often revealed through exposition
• Effective use of backstory can deepen characters, enrich the narrative, and create a sense of history and depth in a show's world

Character motivations and history

• Backstory can provide insight into a character's motivations, fears, and desires, making them more complex and relatable
• Revealing key moments from a character's past can help explain their present actions and choices
• A character's history can be a source of conflict, growth, or transformation throughout the series
• Writers must strike a balance between revealing enough backstory to make characters compelling and maintaining a sense of mystery and discovery

World-building and lore

• Backstory can be used to establish the rules, history, and mythology of a show's fictional world
• Revealing elements of a world's past can create a sense of depth, texture, and verisimilitude
• Backstory can be used to set up key plot points, conflicts, or mysteries that will play out over the course of the series
• Writers must be careful not to overload the audience with too much world-building at once, revealing backstory gradually and purposefully

Revealing backstory through exposition

• Exposition refers to the way in which backstory is revealed to the audience, often through dialogue, flashbacks, or narration
• Effective exposition is subtle, natural, and integrated into the story, avoiding long info-dumps or awkward explanations
• Backstory can be revealed through character interactions, visual cues, or key plot points, allowing the audience to piece together the puzzle of a character or world's history
• Writers must be strategic in when and how they reveal backstory, using it to enhance the narrative rather than slow it down

Mythology vs backstory

• While mythology and backstory both deal with the history and background of a story, they serve different narrative functions and operate on different scales
• Understanding the distinctions between mythology and backstory can help writers use each element effectively in their scripts

Scope and scale

• Mythology tends to operate on a grand, sweeping scale, often encompassing entire cultures, worlds, or belief systems
• Backstory is typically more focused and personal, dealing with the specific histories of individual characters or localized events
• Mythologies are often epic in scope, while backstory is more intimate and character-driven
• Writers must consider the appropriate scale and scope when incorporating mythology or backstory into their narratives

Societal impact and influence

• Mythologies often have a significant impact on the societies and cultures in which they originate, shaping beliefs, values, and traditions
• Backstory, while important for individual characters, rarely has the same level of societal influence as mythology
• Mythologies are often deeply ingrained in the collective consciousness of a culture, while backstory is more specific to a particular narrative
• Writers can use mythology to tap into broader cultural themes and ideas, while backstory is used to create depth and specificity within a story

Relationship to main narrative

• Mythology often serves as the foundation or backdrop for a story, providing the context and framework in which the main narrative takes place
• Backstory is more directly connected to the main narrative, filling in the gaps and providing necessary context for character actions and plot developments
• Mythology can function independently of the main narrative, while backstory is typically more integrated and essential to understanding the story
• Writers must consider how mythology and backstory relate to and support the main narrative, using each element purposefully and effectively

Integrating mythology and backstory

• Successfully integrating mythology and backstory into a television narrative requires careful planning, pacing, and execution
• Writers must consider how to weave these elements into the story in a way that feels organic, compelling, and satisfying for the audience

Foreshadowing and setup

• Mythology and backstory can be used to foreshadow future events or set up key plot points and character arcs
• Subtle hints and clues about a show's mythology or a character's backstory can create a sense of intrigue and anticipation for the audience
• Foreshadowing can be achieved through dialogue, visual cues, or thematic elements that hint at the larger mythology or backstory at play
• Effective foreshadowing and setup require careful planning and execution, planting seeds that will pay off later in the narrative

Payoff and resolution

• Integrating mythology and backstory into a narrative builds audience expectations for a satisfying payoff and resolution
• As the story progresses, elements of the mythology or backstory should be revealed in a way that feels earned and meaningful
• Payoff can come in the form of key character revelations, plot twists, or the resolution of long-running mysteries or conflicts
• Writers must balance the need for satisfying payoff with the desire to maintain a sense of ongoing intrigue and discovery

Enriching character arcs

• Mythology and backstory can be used to enrich and deepen character arcs, providing context and motivation for their actions and growth
• Revealing elements of a character's backstory can help the audience understand and empathize with their struggles and triumphs
• A show's mythology can serve as a catalyst for character growth, forcing them to confront their past or grapple with larger existential questions
• Integrating mythology and backstory into character arcs requires a delicate balance of revelation and mystery, allowing characters to grow and change over time

Pitfalls of mythology and backstory

• While mythology and backstory can be powerful tools for storytelling, there are also potential pitfalls that writers must be aware of
• Overusing or mishandling these elements can lead to confusion, frustration, or disengagement from the audience

Over-reliance on exposition

• One common pitfall is an over-reliance on exposition to convey mythology or backstory
• Long info-dumps or awkward explanations can slow down the narrative and feel artificial or forced
• Overusing exposition can also rob the audience of the opportunity to discover the mythology or backstory for themselves, reducing their engagement and investment in the story
• Writers must be judicious in their use of exposition, finding ways to reveal mythology and backstory through action, dialogue, and visual storytelling

Convoluted or inconsistent lore

• Another pitfall is creating a mythology or backstory that is too convoluted, confusing, or inconsistent
• Complex mythologies with too many elements or contradictory rules can be difficult for audiences to follow or invest in
• Inconsistencies in a show's lore can break audience immersion and undermine the credibility of the narrative
• Writers must strive for clarity, consistency, and parsimony in their mythologies and backstories, avoiding unnecessary complexity or contradiction

Distracting from central plot

• Mythology and backstory can also become a distraction from the central plot or character arcs if not handled carefully
• Overemphasizing mythology or backstory at the expense of the main narrative can leave audiences feeling unsatisfied or disengaged
• Tangential or irrelevant elements of mythology or backstory can feel like filler or fan service, detracting from the core story
• Writers must ensure that mythology and backstory are always in service of the main narrative, enhancing rather than distracting from the central plot and character arcs